Los Angeles Data Platform

Abstract Can we use Power to deal with real-time data sources, very large tables, and transactional details? Yes, but it requires some planning and proper design. Out of the box, Power BI is super-fast with moderate data volumes and data schemas optimized for analytic reporting. How big is your data? Millions or billions of rows? Gigabytes or terabytes? - we can handle that. Moving beyond the basics, learn to use DirectQuery alongside in-memory Import mode in composite models to access very large tables with real-time results; models and reports that combine interactive "dashboard-style" reports and drill-through to transactional details. Take a journey and learn to use the Power BI platform to achieve the best of both worlds: performance and scale. Session Materials https://sqlserverbi.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Using-Power-BI-with-a-Lot-of-Data-2023-1.pdf https://sqlserverbi.blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/PowerBILotsOfData_PTurley_Samples.zip Speaker Bio Paul is a Director & Competency Lead for 3Cloud Solutions, a Mentor and Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He works with companies around the world to model data, visualize and deliver critical information to make informed business decisions; using the Microsoft data platform and business analytics tools. He is a Director of the Oregon Data Community PASS chapter & user group, the author and lead author of Professional SQL Server 2016 Reporting Services and 14 other titles from Wrox & Microsoft Press. Paul is a 2021 & 2022 FastTrack Recognized Solution Architect and holds several certifications related to the Microsoft Data Platform and Business Intelligence.

Abstract Announced at Microsoft Build 2023, Microsoft Fabric is the new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offering for data analytics solutions. Based on the data lakehouse paradigm and incorporating the latest updates to Data Factory, Synapse, and Power BI, Fabric is positioned as the one-stop shop for both professional and citizen data analytics workloads. Please join us as we explore this exciting next step in the evolution of the Microsoft Data Platform for analytics. Speaker Bio Chris Hyde is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He works as an independent SQL Server BI and DBA consultant and is the leader of the Albuquerque PASS local user group. He is also part of the Friends of Redgate program and was a member of the IDERA ACE class of 2018. He loves loud music and cricket, but usually not at the same time.

Abstract I will begin with a brief overview of SQL. Then the five major topics a data scientist should understand when working with relational databases are basic statistics in SQL, data preparation in SQL, advanced filtering and data aggregation, window functions, and preparing data for use with analytics tools. Speaker Bio Highly experienced in Big Data and traditional data technologies with a history of success in designing, and implementing complex technical projects for diverse businesses in various stages of their development. Acknowledged as a leader capable of mentoring teams of different backgrounds and talents and inspiring individual efforts to deliver. Organized and detail-oriented, with a positive proactive, and hardworking attitude. Performance history reflects a highly analytical strategic thinker with strengths in defining solutions and executing programs invaluable to an all-encompassing range of projects and positions. Session Materials TBD

Abstract I end up answering a lot of security questions in the DBA portion of my job, and because of that I've developed a few interesting tricks, and written some handy scripts to work through them. By the end of this presentation, you'll be able to generate a quick and easy entitlement report, tell what active directory groups an individual is using to connect to a given database, check to make sure that the service account can execute that stored procedure, and more. Speaker Bio Kenneth Fisher has worked as a database administrator and/or database developer for his entire career of over thirty years. He enjoys writing and his writing credits include a number of technical articles and SQL Server-related crossword puzzles. He also blogs incessantly at www.sqlstudies.com and is honored to be a Data Platform MVP Session Materials https://github.com/sqlstudent144/Session-Scripts/tree/main/Security%20Headaches

Abstract A walkthrough on how to extract the inner elements of a Power BI refresh to help better understand what happens each time you refresh a dataset. This may help you optimise your Power BI refreshes. Speaker Bio An accomplished database and business intelligence (BI) professional with a deep knowledge of the Microsoft BI stack along with extensive knowledge of data warehouse (DW) methodologies and enterprise data modeling. Session Materials https://dax.tips/category/power-bi-refresh/

Abstract The evolution of technology and the sheer amount of data increases the use of modern-day architectures. Carefully using the term modern-day architecture because the data lake architecture isn’t just for data warehousing and prescriptive analytics. It spans multiple modern-day use cases and architectural designs. Data wrangling and choosing your tools effectively continue to change as well. Think about Azure data factory v1 and how it evolved into ADF V2. Look at some of the additional data movement components and options. Databricks and notebooks modernized data movement and ACID transactions with delta lake. We have witnessed the next shift with Power Query and data wrangling within your ADF pipelines. In this session, we will look at some of these services and open mic and discuss the pros and cons of each. I will demo different data movement techniques and provide a forum to discuss experiences. Speaker Bio Dan King is currently a Solutions Architect Competency lead at 3Cloud Solutions. His daily activities are not only working with customers but with a primary focus on repeatable processes and standardizing go-to-market analytics architectural design to fit the needs of different industries. From a Microsoft mindset, you can relate it to common data models with common ETL/ELT processes. His experience spans over a decade that started from networking and telecommunication to being a SQL database administrator with a final landing zone in data analytics. Today is his core focus and goal. With expertise in analyzing data, data movement, ETL design, data modeling, and visualization, in his own words, he has been honored to see how organizations take data from various sources through ingestion as it flows to storage and eventually lands in the presentation layer. Dan holds multiple Microsoft certifications and continues to progress with the changes in technology. He loves to work out, and do outdoor sports, and finds tremendous value in training his peers in areas in which he holds knowledge in. Family is a core value, and he loves family. He views the SQL community as his extended family. Slide deck and code TBD

Abstract Bad data comes in many forms: duplicate rows, wrong data type, invalid values, and orphaned or missing foreign keys. Time is wasted cleansing, reviewing, and correcting data, not to mention the potential hazards bad data can cause. This introductory presentation will explain the data types and constraints available in SQL Server, and how they can replace or augment business rules that would otherwise be written in the application or procedure code. Performance benefits provided by constraints will be demonstrated. We will examine the various system views and procedures that describe constraints and how to use them to document your databases. You will be able to apply this knowledge to your database environments and see significant improvements in data quality, performance, and reliability. Speaker Bio Rob Volk is a SQL Server DBA in the Metro Atlanta area since 2001. He also moderates and answers the forums on SQLTeam.com. While a cranky old-time DBA, he no longer considers "business intelligence" an oxymoron or "the cloud" as merely atmospheric moisture, and loves to do things in new and unusual ways. Slide deck and code TBD

Abstract Organizing and documenting the scripts we reuse regularly is challenging for many data professionals. Do you usually get requests like "Hey, can you please pull up the audit report and attach the results to this email, please?" Are you frustrated by looking at how many scripts you need to search and run? Copy, and paste over and over again as you keep getting those types of requests. I totally understand and your frustrations are entirely valid. No more frustrations. Empty those word documents and start using the hassle-free SQL Notebooks! How? Notebooks can help you document the process and executable scripts so you can save the results and share them with others. Reuse the notebooks and work effectively. Excited? Join this session to learn to create your first notebook! Speaker Bio Deepthi is a SQL Server Database Administrator with several years of experience in Administering SQL Servers. She is a Microsoft-certified trainer and Microsoft-certified professional with an Associate and Expert level Certification in Data Management and Analytics. Deepthi blogs for DBANuggets.com. Deepthi is a Co-Organizer for Microsoft Data and AI South Florida user group and Data Platform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Group. She is a Volunteer for Data platform Women in Technology user group. She is a Friend of Redgate. Along with this, Deepthi loves arts and crafts. You can contact her on Twitter @dbanuggets. Slide deck and code TBD

Abstract Managing and moving data efficiently requires a reliable system for detecting changes, and in some cases, for tracking the history of those changes. For data stored in SQL Server, there are two easy-to-use methods for this: change tracking and temporal tables. In this session, we'll take a look at SQL Server change tracking and SQL Server temporal tables. We'll cover the basics of each of these and will review some ideal use cases for each. We'll go through several demos to show how these can be used through normal T-SQL operations as well as ETL tools such as SSIS. Speaker Bio Tim Mitchell is a business intelligence architect, author, and trainer. He has been building data solutions for over 17 years, specializing in data warehousing, ETL/SSIS, and reporting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M at Commerce and has been recognized as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP each year since 2010. Tim is the founder and principal data architect at Tyleris Data Solutions, a consulting firm focused on delivering on-premises and cloud-based solutions on the Microsoft data platform. Slide deck and code https://www.timmitchell.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Change-Tracking-and-Temporal-Tables_LA2022.zip

Abstract DBATools is a community-developed, open-source PowerShell module for monitoring and administering SQL Server instances and databases. Join me for this session to learn how DBATools can simplify the configuration, administration, and monitoring of HA/DR solutions including log shipping, clustering, and Availability Groups. Speaker Bio Frank Gill has worked in IT for 23 years and has spent the last 15 working with SQL Server. He has been an active member of the SQL Server community since 2009 and loves teaching people about technology. When not working with databases, Frank loves art museums, reading voraciously, and White Sox baseball. Slide deck and code https://github.com/skreebydba/HadrWithDBATools

Abstract Automating the configuration of SQL Server instances and being able to check the configuration for standard configuration is an important role for any DBA when you have lots of instances. But how can we automate the configuration easily? How can we check to make sure the proper configuration is in place and hasn’t changed? In this session, we will look at how to configure your SQL Server Instances using PowerShell and the dbatools module. Then we will look at how to use dbachecks to confirm the configuration of our instances and how to check for changes in the future of the configuration. Attendees will see how easy it is to use PowerShell via dbatools to configure their SQL Server instances. Attendees will see how easy it is to use PowerShell via dbachecks and PowerBI to see if their servers are configured properly. Attendees will be given a set of scripts that take back to use to configure and test the configuration of their SQL Server instances. Speaker Bio Tracy is the Database Superhero for DocuSign. Tracy does things in the Microsoft Data Platform Community and is Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Tracy has volunteered through the NC Guardian ad Litem program since 2003 being the voice for abused and neglected foster children in the court system. This is her passion outside of SQL Server and her favorite, most important job. When Tracy isn't volunteering in the Microsoft Data Platform community, she likes to be making a difference somewhere. Slide deck and code https://tracyboggiano.com/presentations/

Abstract Creating a blog worth reading is no easy task. It’s a fine balance between consistency, topic choice, readability and SEO magic. Join marketing expert Blythe Morrow as we discuss how to build content for technical audiences that generates reads that connects you deeper into the SQL Server Community. Learn what it takes to eliminate confusion for your readers and connect people in a way that solves their problems. We'll also have a cameo or two from SQL celebrity bloggers who can lend advice and tips. Why I Want to Present This Session: I've been working with businesses in the Microsoft Data Platform for almost 10 years now, and I know how valuable SQL Server consultants are to the companies who need them. I'm here to connect the dots - between consulting, SQL Server and lead generation. Speaker Bio Blythe works with a team of people who love Data Platforms and technology marketing. She started 10 years ago as the Community Manager for PASS and now spends her days helping companies that build products and services on the Microsoft Data Platform. She offers advice to CMOs and CEOs on how to competitively position their companies, create and manage their brands, enter the digital arena and maximize marketing and sales investments. Slide deck and code TBD

Abstract Have you ever wondered if there is a better way to get database changes from development to production? In this session, I'll provide a brief overview of the what and why of DevOps. Then we'll dive into the all-important aspect - How. There will be tips, tricks, stumbling blocks, and a few tools to help in that regard. We'll review the two major approaches to Database DevOps and wrap up with an overview of the two most popular applications. Prerequisites: Knowledge of T-SQL and PowerShell is assumed. What you really need is a desire to work smarter and not harder. Speaker Bio Paul lives in the DFW area, is an MCSE in Database Development and Analytics, and is a Friend of RedGate. He has presented on various developer topics at SQL Saturdays, PASS SQLRally, and RedGate SQL in the City. In his spare time, he enjoys attending SQL webinars and being a smarta$$ ...and he plays guitar - some. Slide deck and code https://github.com/Data-Driven-Technologies/April-2022-session

Abstract A lot of new business intelligence tooling is focused on interactive, analytical reports. But sometimes you absolutely need reports that can be printed or exported, also known as paginated reports. So when you need to create operational focused reporting, which tool do you use? In this talk, we’ll compare two of the solutions: Jaspersoft Reports and SQL Server Reporting Services. We’ll see how quickly you can get started with each tool and how easy they are to work with. We’ll cover the breadth of features as well as hosting options. By the end of this session, you’ll have a solid idea of which tool is best for you. Speaker Bio Eugene Meidinger works as an independent BI consultant and Pluralsight author, specializing in Power BI and the Azure Data Platform. He has been working with data for over 8 years and speaks regularly at user groups and conferences. He also helps run the GroupBy online conference. Slide deck https://github.com/eugman/eugene-presentations/blob/main/Jaspersoft vs SSRS.pdf

Abstract As DBAs we are in charge of the safety and security of our databases. Backup and ability to restore in a timely fashion is one of the most important responsibility. There are many tools available in the market in addition to Microsoft's own Maintenance Plan builder and Ola Hallengren's awesome scripts. But, is this where it should end for a mortal DBA? Possibly yes; if you are new to the whole DBA game, or if you think you are a DBA this is far from the truth. In this session we will cover some of my own experiments, with supporting data, to minimize your downtime for backups and restores. The other major responsibility for us is to maintain performance of the databases and their integrity. We'll also some of the best practices to help you cut down the maintenance window and give max downtime for your discerning customer. Speaker Bio Data Platform Manager Paresh Motiwala PMP; an Azure enthusiast, a Data Platform Manager (Boston)has led several large SQL implementations, migrations and upgrades. He was recently selected as a "Speaker Idol" finalist for the PASS Summit 2018. He has managed multi terabyte OLTP databases. He loves learning and talking about Big Data. He has also been a Senior SQL DBA and a Solutions Architect in Fortune 100 companies. He also helps organizing / and speaks at many SQL Saturdays, Azure Bootcamp and User Groups. He is a certified in Big Data Analytics and FinTech(MIT) Project manager, Public Speaker, an avid singer, cook, open networker, and stand-up comedian. He teaches public speaking, debating, interviewing and group discussion skills. He also mentors DBAs in Boston area; and children around the globe via www.circlesofgrowth.com

Abstract Data preparation is a lengthy and complicated process in a modern data warehouse solution. Microsoft recently released Azure Data Factory Power Query, which greatly eases this process with no-code data preparation. In this session, I will take you through how to use Azure Data Factory Power Query to prep data in a modern data warehouse. By the end of the session, you will be able to understand Azure Data Factory Power Query and its usage in a modern data warehouse solution. Speaker Bio Thimantha Vidanagamage is a Microsoft Certified Data Analyst - Azure Data Scientist - Azure AI Engineer Associate with experience in Microsoft Business Intelligence. He is passionate about technologies such as Microsoft Power BI, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake Gen2 and Azure Machine Learning. Currently, he is an Associate Microsoft Business Intelligence Consultant for Fortude (Pvt) Ltd. which is the only Microsoft Gold Partner for Data Analytics and Data Platform in Sri Lanka.

Abstract: Are you facing performance issues due to parameter-sensitive queries? Are many plans being generated for your queries and you cannot control choosing the plan best for your query? Come learn in this session how we can capture the different plans generated for those queries and decide which plan you can force for better performance using the Query Store feature. Query Store feature introduced in SQL Server 2016 and has advanced its features introducing Wait stats per Query plan and Automatic Plan correction feature in SQL Server 2017 and Azure SQL database which will force the plans and resolve the issues automatically for you. Sound’s amazing, right? Join Deepthi to know all about the Query Store feature and its advancements in detail so you can implement them to take advantage of this awesome feature! About Speaker Deepthi is a SQL Server Database Administrator with several years of experience in Administering SQL Servers. She is a Microsoft certified trainer and Microsoft certified professional with an Associate and Expert level Certification in Data Management and Analytics. Deepthi blogs for DBANuggets.com. Deepthi is a Co-Organizer for Microsoft Data and AI South Florida user group and Data Platform Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Virtual Group. She is a Volunteer for Data platform Women in Technology user group. She is a Friend of Redgate. Along with this, Deepthi loves arts and crafts. You can contact her on Twitter @dbanuggets.

Abstract: When you're looking at a query plan to see if there's opportunity for improvement, what are the things you look for within the operators you see? In this session, Rob will explore some of the signs that there's some tuning to be done, and what kinds of things can be done to address them. About Speaker Rob is a data consultant in Australia. His company is LobsterPot Solutions. He's an MCM for life, MVP for now, and MCT for as long as he keeps meeting the required conditions.

Abstract: Have you ever developed slowly running queries and wondered how to make your own SQL Server queries go faster? In this session, you will learn some T-SQL performance tuning tips that can be used on Monday back at the office. You will learn how to identify top offender queries, be able to benchmark queries. Finally we will cover coding patterns that are developer friendly but are not SQL Server database engine friendly and show you how to rewrite them so they can run faster. Prerequisites: Experience building T-SQL Queries and the curiosity to learn how to tune your own queries. About John John Sterrett is a MCSE: Data Platform, Principal Consultant, and the Founder of Procure SQL LLC. John has experience presenting at community events, including Microsoft Ignite, PASS Member Summit, SQLRally, 24 Hours of PASS, SQL Saturdays, PASS Chapters, and Virtual Chapter meetings. John is a leader of the Austin SQL Server User Group and is the founder of the HADR Virtual Chapter. John's community activities can be found at https://johnsterrett.com/community/

Abstract Dynamic Management views and functions allow you to easily see exactly what is happening inside your SQL Server instances and databases with a high level of detail. You can discover your top wait types, most CPU intensive stored procedures, find missing indexes, and identify unused indexes, to name just a few examples. This session presents, demonstrates, and explains a complete set of diagnostic DMV queries that you can easily use to detect and diagnose configuration and performance issues in your SQL Server instances and databases. This session goes into exhaustive detail on how to interpret the results of each of the diagnostic queries, including relevant background information on how to properly configure your hardware, storage subsystem, operating system, SQL Server instance, and databases in order to avoid performance and scalability issues. Prerequisites: Some experience with SQL Server 2005 and later About Speaker Glenn works as a Principal Consultant for Dr. DMV, LLC in Elizabeth, CO. He was a Data Platform MVP from 2007-2017, and he has a whole collection of Microsoft certifications, including MCITP, MCDBA, MCSE, MCSD, MCAD, and MCTS, which proves that he likes to take tests. His expertise includes DMVs, high availability, hardware selection, performance tuning, and Azure SQL Database. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member at University College - University of Denver, where has been teaching since 2000. He has completed the Master Teacher Program at Denver University - University College. He is heavily involved in the SQL Server community, and is a frequent speaker at user groups, SQL Saturdays, and the PASS Community Summit.

Abstract: Whether you set up and operate data processing systems or write programs that use them, modern databases like SQL Server have facilities to work with Machine Learning constructs. You’ve been hearing a lot about ML, AI, and Deep Learning. But how does it work and what are the differences? What is the magic happening behind the scenes that is allowing for all these new advanced models to be created? And how is SQL related? In this session, Anna Hoffman – a Data & Applied Scientist on the SQL Engineering team – will explain the basic mechanics of ML, AI, and Deep Learning, with some examples from the SQL Server Platform (Azure SQL Database, SQL Server 2019). At the end, you will be able to differentiate between the three, and you’ll get resources to learn more and try the examples on your own. About Anna: Anna is a Data and Applied Scientist on the Azure Data (SQL) product team at Microsoft. In her time at Microsoft, Anna has worked in Microsoft Consulting Services, AI Engineering, and now SQL Engineering. She spends most of her time working on Azure SQL and participating in the community to democratize intelligence over all your data, from ground to cloud. You can follow her on Twitter at @AnalyticAnna. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amthomas46/ https://twitter.com/AnalyticAnna

Abstract Infrastructure DBA in the Cloud, "I Have Control Issues" About Speaker Kellyn Gorman, Principal Data Engineer, SME for Oracle on Azure.

Abstract: Python in SQL Server 2017 and 2019 SQL Server 2017 and 2019 have arrived, bringing with them a host of exciting new features. Of particular interest to BI practitioners and data scientists is the integration of the Python programming language into the SQL ecosystem. This integration opens up a number of possibilities for in-database analytics and intelligent database applications, so let's get started! In this introductory session we'll briefly introduce the Python language and then look at how to install and administer Machine Learning Services. We'll start to demonstrate the power of Python by showing you how to create and run simple scripts from within T-SQL. We'll then discuss some of the powerful open source packages that are available to aid your data analyses. Finally, we'll go through some examples of how to use Python to integrate data analytical methods in real-world situations, and wow your customers with the power of analytics! About Chris Chris Hyde is a Owner and Principal Consultant, Hydrate Consulting LLC. He is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He works as an independent SQL Server BI and DBA consultant, and is the leader of the Albuquerque PASS local user group. He is also part of the Friends of Redgate program and was a member of the Idera ACE class of 2018. He loves loud music and cricket, but usually not at the same time.

Abstract: If you've ever wondered what that other service is in your configuration manager then this is the class for you. Full text indexing allows you to write queries to scan large text fields without having to do a complete table scan every time. We'll talk about installing, setting up, maintaining, and using full text indexes to their fullest! About Eric Eric Blinn is a Sr Data Architect, Squire Patton Boggs. He has been a SQL Server DBA in the legal, software, transportation, and insurance industries for over 10 years. Currently he is the Sr Data Architect for Squire Patton Boggs, a leading provider of legal services with 47 offices in 20 countries. Eric is a 2018-2019 IDERA Ace and has co-authored 2 IDERA Whitepapers. He has been a presenter at PASS Summit, SQLSaturdays, the in.sight transportation conference, and the Ohio North SQL Server User's Group.

Abstract: SQL Server 2016 SP1 and newer makes data compression available in all editions. Data compression can reduce storage costs, and provide a performance boost—and now compression is available without the added cost of Enterprise Edition. Whether you are a developer or a DBA, it’s important to know how to use compression to save money and improve speed. Come learn about how data compression actually works, the differences between ROW and PAGE compression, and learn how to pick the best compression level for your data. This session will cover the details of the compression algorithms, and the costs and benefits associated with each type of compression. By the end of this session, you’ll have a better idea of how the different compression algorithms work, when compression is the right solution, as well as what type of compression to use. Course materials are available at am2.co/data-compression. About Andy Andy is a SQL Server DBA that has managed databases in the healthcare, finance, e-commerce, and non-profit sectors. Since 2003, Andy has been supporting high-volume, highly-available OLTP environments with demanding performance needs. He is the founder of BostonSQL, co-organizer of SQL Saturday Boston, and speaker at many SQL Server user groups & SQL Saturdays.